It’s obvious that the New Orleans Saints need more help rushing the passer — their 18 sacks as a team are tied for the second-fewest in the NFL going into Week 13. Cameron Jordan, their franchise leader in sacks, has just two takedowns through 11 games this season. He can’t keep doing this on his own even if Carl Granderson has developed into a solid player for the Saints off the other end of the line.
So it’s no surprise that Saints fans using the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator are making the pass rush a priority. PFF analysis found that the most-picked player by Saints fans is Alabama edge defender Dallas Turner, with 14.8% of mock drafts choosing him. Here’s what PFF’s Trevor Sikkema had to say about the fit:
It feels like it’s going to be a trench pick for the Saints this offseason, whether that’s the offensive or defensive line. Turner is more of an outside linebacker type of edge player and is having a career year as a pass-rusher for the Crimson Tide, sporting an 88.6 pass-rush grade. Turner has always displayed good explosiveness, but he is flashing added strength this season, too.
In scenarios where Turner has been unavailable, Saints fans have gone with Florida State defensive end Jared Verse 11.2% of the time. He’s someone we’re high on here at Saints Wire thanks to his speed off the edge and big frame meeting what the Saints look for athletically at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds.
Turner is a great player in his own right, but his listed size (6-foot-4 and 242 pounds) would keep him from doing what he does best in New Orleans. Just like Zack Baun before him, he’d be miscast in a coverage role rather than playing close to the line of scrimmage — unless Dennis Allen’s defense drastically changes what they look for at the position in the spring.
